Oxygen lance manipulator for open hearth furnaces



Oct. 4, 1966 A. J- KARDOS ETAL 3,276,759

OXYGEN LANCE MANIPULATOR FOR OPEN HEARTH FURNACES Filed Aug. 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIGJ INVENTORS AUGUSTINEJ.KARDOS WALTE'R MAmwARme, a MW,

ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1966 A. J. KARDOS ETAL 3,275,759

OXYGEN LANCE MANIPULATOR FOR OPEN HEARTH FURNACES Filed Aug. 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1966 A. J. KARDOS ETAL 3,276,759

OXYGEN LANCE MANIPULATOR FOR OPEN HEARTH FURNACES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 12, 1963 ATTORNEY Filed Aug. 12, 1963 Oct. 4, 1966 A. J. KARDOS ETAL 3,276,759

OXYGEN LANCE MANIPULATOR FOR OPEN HEARTH FURNACES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ETW INVENTORS AUGUSTINEJ.KARDOS WALTER MAINWARINQJR ATTORNEY United States Patent C OXYGEN LANCE MANIPULATOR FOR OPEN HEARTH FURNACES Augustine J. Kardos, Brackenridge, and Walter Mainwaring, In, New Kensington, Pa., assignors to Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation, Brackenridge, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 301,423 6 Claims. (Cl. 266 34) This invention relates to apparatus for providing metallurgical oxygen to open hearth furnaces, and more particularly to equipment for inserting and withdrawing oxygen lances through the top of an open hearth furnace.

The use of metallurgical oxygen in open hearth furnaces for making steel is now a common practice. Although there are many types of lances and many ways of arranging the lances for delivering the oxygen, watercooled lances projecting through the top of the furnace are usually the most desirable. When new open hearth furnaces and shops are built, the furnaces and associated equipment are designed to accommodate roof oxygen lances and equipment associated therewith. In the case of new installations, ample space for the oxygen lances and the associated equipment is provided at the top of the furnace. However, when existing open hearth furnaces are converted to use lance oxygen, sufiicient space is not always available on top of the furnace to accommodate the oxygen lance and associated structure required to support the lance for insertion or withdrawal from the furnace. For example, it is quite typical to have at least one bridge-type crane operating on the charging side of the open hearths, and the bridges of these cranes often pass quite close to the top of the furnaces. In this instance, the supporting tower for inserting and withdrawing the lance may be so tall that it would obstruct the crane travel. One possible solution to this problem is to raise the crane so that it would clear the lower assembly; this, however, is an expensive solution, inasmuch as it would entail the raising of the crane tracks and, in some clases, might involve completely rebuilding the roof of the s op.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a device for inserting and removing an oxygen lance which will not permanently restrict overhead crane movement.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for inserting and removing an oxygen lance, which apparatus includes a tower that can be moved out of the Way when it is not actually in use for inserting or withdrawing the lance to allow for overhead crane travel.

Still a further, more specific object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for inserting and removing an oxygen lance, which apparatus includes a tower normally resting in a horizontal position but which can be raised to a vertical position when inserting and removing an oxygen lance, and can be lowered back to the horizontal position when not in use.

Yet another, more particular object of this invention is the provision of apparatus for inserting and removing an oxygen lance, which apparatus has a tower that can be raised to a vertical position to insert and move the oxygen lance, can be lowered to a horizontal position when the oxygen lance is in use, and can also be lowered to the horizontal position when the oxygen lance has been withdrawn, and will support the oxygen lance horizontally Patented Oct. 4, 1966 "ice when not in use, so as to provide clearance for overhead cranes when the tower is in the horizontal position.

These and other objects, together with a fuller understanding of the invention, will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view, partially in section, showing an open hearth furnace having an oxygen lance and supporting structure of this invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of this invention showing the oxygen lance retracted and the support tower folded fiat on top of the furnace;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the device of FIG. 2 showing the tower and lance in horizontal position when not in use;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the device of this invention showing the lance inserted through a water cooled port into the furnace;

FIG. 5 is a detailed front elevational view, partially in section, of the port cover and its mounting on the furnace;

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing of the support tower raised, ready to insert the lance into the furnace;

FIG. 7 is a schematic showing of the support tower, raised just after the lance has been inserted into the furnace, and

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing of the lance inserted in the furnace and the support tower pivoted back to its retracted position.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URE l, the device of this invention is shown in conjunction with an open hearth furnace designated generally as 10. The furnace 10 includes a refractory roof 12 having a port 14 through which an oxygen lance 16 (of any conventional water-cooled design) can be projected. The port 14 is defined by a water-cooled jacket 17. The device of this invention which is adapted to raise and lower the oxygen lance 16, is supported by channels and tie rods 18 which form the roof-supporting structure of the furnace 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the device of this invention includes a support tower 20 having one end keyed to a shaft 22, which shaft is journaled for rotation by bearings 24 and 26. The shaft 22 is connected to a reversible motor 28 through a gear reduction box 30; thus, the shaft can be rotated by the motor to pivot the tower between the horizontal and the verticalpositions shown in FIG. 1. The tower 20 is adapted to support and manipulate the oxygen lance 16 which is secured to the end of a cable 32. The cable 32 is reeved over a sheave 34 at the remote end of the tower 20, and thence over a sheave 36 carried by the shaft 22, then around two sheaves 38 and 40 mounted on the channels 18 and is finally wound on a drum 42 driven by a reversible motor 44. A sheave 46 is provided on the tower 20 adjacent its con nection to the shaft 22, as can best be seen in FIG. 3. This sheave 46 acts as a support for the lance when the lance is retracted and, as will become apparent, acts as a direction-changing sheave for the cable 32 when the lance is inserted in the furnace in operating position.

Suitable hoses 48 and 49 are provided for supplying the oxygen to the lance from a source (not shown). The oxygen is provided by two hoses instead of one so that the hoses will be balanced on each side of the tower, i.e., one on each side; however, functionally one oxygen hose would suffice. Hoses 50 are provided for the inlet cooling water from a source (not shown), and hoses 52 are provided for the outlet water to empty it in a drain (not shown). Because of the movement of the oxygen lanoes 16 and support tower 20, swivel-type couplings 54 are provided where necessary to connect the hoses to the oxygen sources, water inlet sources and outlet drains to permit movement of the hoses without bending or twisting.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a cover 55 is provided to prevent heat loss through the port 14 when the lance is not in use. Additionally, the cover 55 prevents flame and heat damage to the lance 16 and the associated lance operating mechanism and furnace structure when the lance is not in use. The cover 55 has a pair of lugs 56 on each side thereof. The lugs engage camming slots 58 formed in guide plates 60 welded to the channels 18. The cover 55 is operated by an air cylinder 62 which is mounted on the channels 18. When the air cylinder 62 is actuated in one direction, the camming action of the slots 58 and lugs 56 will cause the cover 55 to rise and retract leaving the port 14 unobstructed, and when the cylinder, is actuated in the opposite direction will replace the cover over the port 14.

Operation The lance, when not in use, is stored in the horizontal.

position shown in FIG. 1, and the cover 55 is in position covering the port 14. As can be seen, when the tower 20 and support lance 16 are in this horizontal position, the lower part of the electric overhead traveling crane bridge, shown schematically by the line 64, can freely pass over the lance and tower, and its travel is not obstructed by any of the equipment nequired for the oxygen lance. When it is desired to use the oxygen lance, the crane is first moved away from the vicinity of the lance and tower and the air cylinder 62 is actuated to remove the cover. The motor 28 is then actuated and the tower 20 is rotated by the rotation of shaft 22 until it reaches the vertical position as shown in FIG. 6. If desired, the tower may be moved slightly past this vertical position to allow the oxygen lance 16 to hang freely as a pendulum and not rub or scrape the tower. When the tower is in this vertical position, the lance will be suspended vertically above the port 14; however, because of normal misalignment problems, the top of the port is somewhat bell-shaped, as shown, to provide guidance for the lance when it is lowered. It is apparent from the examination of the drawings that when the tower is raised the lance will not change positions with respect to the tower to any substantial extent, i.e., the lance will not be moved longitudinally along the tower to any extent other than the movement inherentin the slight change of positions of the cable 32 on the various sheaves. When the tower is in the vertical position and the cover 55 has been retracted, the lance is then inserted into the furnace through the port 14 by actuating the motor 44 to unwind the cable from the drum 42; as the cable is unwound, the weight of the lance will cause it to descend through the port 14 into operating position, as shown in FIG. 7. After the lance has been lowered into this operating position and the end of the lance which is attached to the cable has passed the sheave 46, this sheave then becomes a cable sheave as opposed to a lance-sup porting sheave, as previously described. The tower is then returned to its horizontal position by actuating the motor 28 in the opposite direction. This position is shown in FIG. 8, and when the tower is in this position the crane can freely pass over it. The height of the lance within the furnace can be changed by actuating the motor 44 which will change the height of the lance to whatever height is required, although the lance cannot be completely removed from the furnace while the tower is retracted. In order to retract the lance, the tower is rotated to its vertical position, the lance is withdrawn by rolling the cable up on the drum 42, and the tower is then returned to its horizontal position and the cover replaced on the' port 14.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, various adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for inserting and retracting an oxygen lance through an opening in the roof of an open hearth furnace comprising, a tower, means to move the tower between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position, means supporting an oxygen lance on said tower, said supporting means including means to raise and lower the lance between a retracted position and an operating position when the tower is vertical, said supporting means comprising means for carrying the lance with the tower when the lance is in its retracted position and the tower is moved between its vertical and horizontal position and for maintaining the lance vertical when the lance is in its operating position and the tower is moved between its vertical and horizontal positions.

2. Apparatus for inserting and retracting an oxygen lance through an opening in the roof of an open hearth furnace comprising, a tower having one end pivotally mounted on the furnace, means to pivotally move said tower between a generally horizontal'position and a generally vertical position, means supporting an oxygen lance on said tower, said supporting means including meansto raise and lower the lance between a retracted position and an operating position when the tower is vertical, said supporting means comprising means for carrying the lance with the tower when the lance is in its retracted position and the tower is moved between its vertical and horizontal position and for maintaining the lance vertical when the lance is in its operating position and the tower is moved between its vertical and horizontal positions.

. 3. Apparatus for inserting and retracting an oxygen lance through an opening in the roof of an open hearth furnace comprising, a tower having one end pivotally mounted on the furnace, means to pivotally move said tower between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position, means supporting an oxygen lance on said tower, said supporting means including cable means and sheave means adapted to raise and lower the lance between a retracted position and an operating position when the tower is vertical, said supporting means comprising means for carrying the lance with the tower when the lance is in its retracted position and the tower is moved between its vertical and horizontal position and for maintaining the lance vertical when the lance is in its operating position and the tower is moved between its vertical and horizontal positions.

4. Apparatus for inserting and retracting an oxygen lance through an opening in the roof of an open hearth furnace comprising, atower having one end pivotally mounted on the furnace, means to pivotally move said tower between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position, means supporting an oxygen lance on said tower, said supporting means including a cable carrying said lance and a sheave adjacent the non-mounted end of the tower over which the cable is reeved, said cable and sheave being adapted to raise and lower the lance between a retracted position and an operating position when the tower is vertical, said supporting means comprising means for carrying the lance with the tower when the lance is in its retracted position and the tower is moved between its vertical and horizontal position and for maintaining the lance vertical when the lance is in its operating position and the tower is moved between its vertical and horizontal positions.

5. The combination of claim 4 further characterized by a second sheave carried by the tower. adjacent its pivoted end, said second sheave guiding the lance during movement of the tower to its generally vertical position and supporting the lance during pivotal movement of the tower tov its generally horizontal position.

6. Apparatus for inserting and retracting an oxygen lance thro gh an opening in the roof of an open hearth furnace comprising, a tower, means to move said tower between a first position and a second position, means supporting an oxygen lance on said tower, said supporting means including means to raise and lower the lance between a retracted position and an operating position when the tower is in its first position, said supporting means comprising means for carrying the lance with the tower when the lance is in its retracted position and the tower is moved between its first and second positions and for maintaining the lance in its operating position when the lance is therein and the tower is moved between its first and second positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,792,198 6/1957 Braun 175-85 5 2,838,282 6/1958 Colquitt 175-85 2,848,196 8/1958 Simmonds 17585 2,935,303 5/1960 Royer et al 175-14 JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner.

10 WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Examiner.

M. L. FAIGUS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR INSERTING AND RETRACTING AN OXYGEN LANCE THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE ROOF OF AN OPEN HEARTH FURNACE COMPRISING, A TOWER, MEANS TO MOVE THE TOWER BETWEEN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION AND A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION, MEANS SUPPORTING AN OXYGEN LANCE ON SAID TOWER, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS TO RAISE AND LOWER THE LANCE BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION AND AN OPERATING POSITION WHEN THE TOWER IS VERTICAL, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING MEANS FOR CARRYING THE LANCE WITH THE TOWER WHEN THE LANCE IS IN ITS RETRACTED POSITION AND THE TOWER IS MOVED BETWEEN ITS VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL POSITION AND FOR MAINTAINING THE LANCE VERTICAL WHEN THE LANCE IS IN ITS OPERATING POSITION AND THE TOWER IS MOVED BETWEEN ITS VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL POSITIONS. 